Ju Jitsu Jax likes it wet

A forecast for rain in central Pennsylvania should produce ideal conditions for the 2-year-old colt Ju Jitsu Jax, who is unbeaten in three starts, all over a wet track.

Part of an uncoupled entry with the 2-for-3 filly Gnome's Delight for high-percentage trainer Scott Lake, Ju Jitsu Jax heads a field of eight 2-year-olds going six furlongs in Friday night's $55,000 Barry W. James Stakes at Penn National.

Ju Jitsu Jax, the 121-pound highweight, retains jockey Abel Castellano Jr., who has been aboard for two of the colt's three wins. After capturing his career debut over a good track at Delaware Park, then took back-to-back high-priced optional claiming races over sloppy surfaces.

Rhyad, with the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the field - an 89 for his six-length romp over maidens less than two weeks ago at Philadelphia Park - and Top Seed, 2 for 2 sprinting on turf and dirt in Virginia and Maryland, pose the biggest threats to Ju Jitsu Jax.